Dublin Core
Title
Testimonial Dinner to First Volunteers - 1940
Maynard, Mass.
Maynard, Mass.
Description
From Friday, Nov 22, 1940 issue of The Maynard News
Impressive Testimonial to Maynard’s First Volunteers
Sofka and Kangas Presented With Wrist Watches Sunday Night
Maynard – The blowing of fire whistles and screaming of sirens blared a farewell salute to Maynard’s two volunteers, Benjamin Sofka and Velie Kangas, as they left town early Morning to report to the Draft Board at Concord for the first step in their year’s enlistment in the United States Army under the Selective Service Act.
Led by police, and accompanied by members of Frenk J. DeMars Post, and Auxiliary, American Legion, the two young men were escorted from the Town House down Main street to Memorial Park on Summer Street, thence to the center of the town where they were placed in the Maynard police car, and with Chief Henry Piecewicz at the wheel, were whisked out of the town with the siren wide open. As part of their escort, Commander Benjamin Gruber of the Legion, accompanied them.
The sendoff Monday morning was a fitting climax to the impressive testimonial and banquet given them Sunday night at George Washington Auditorium, which was crowded with some two hundred town officials and townspeople.
After the colors had been trooped in by a squad of veterans under the leadership of Past Legion Commander Angus Hanson, Selectman Donald A. Lent welcomed the guets and introduced the Toastmaster, Joseph P. Dineen, Past Commander of the Maynard Legion Post. All but one of the speakers were residents of Maynard, the exception being Judge Calger of Concord, who was also the first to speak. Rev D. Edward O’Bryan, pastor of St. Bridget’s church gave the invocation. Other clergymen who spoke were Rev. George Koponen, pastor of the Finnish Congregational church of which Kangas is a member, Rev. William F. Maciaszek, pastor of St. Casimir’s church, which Sofka attends. Rev. Herbert F. Fulton, pastor of the Methodist church and Father O’Bryan, whose talk was particularly stirring and received much applause. “Father Bill†Maciaszek, as he is affectionately known, brought tears to many eyes as in simple language he explained that the mother of Bennie Sofka was seriously ill in the hospital and unaware that her boy had been called for service.
Following the clergymen were Attorneys Leslie W. Sims, John J. Donahuge, John Driscoll and Charles Lerer; George Lunch, member of the Concord Draft Board; Postmaster Frank O. Sheridan, Representative Avery Steele; John Higgins of the School Committee; James Ledgard; Town Clerk Frank E. Sanderson, who said that, although no record had been kept of the names of the first draftees of the World War, the secretary’s report of the testimonial, newspapers clippings and photographs would be found in the safe of the Town Clerk by those who follow him in
Impressive Testimonial to Maynard’s First Volunteers
Sofka and Kangas Presented With Wrist Watches Sunday Night
Maynard – The blowing of fire whistles and screaming of sirens blared a farewell salute to Maynard’s two volunteers, Benjamin Sofka and Velie Kangas, as they left town early Morning to report to the Draft Board at Concord for the first step in their year’s enlistment in the United States Army under the Selective Service Act.
Led by police, and accompanied by members of Frenk J. DeMars Post, and Auxiliary, American Legion, the two young men were escorted from the Town House down Main street to Memorial Park on Summer Street, thence to the center of the town where they were placed in the Maynard police car, and with Chief Henry Piecewicz at the wheel, were whisked out of the town with the siren wide open. As part of their escort, Commander Benjamin Gruber of the Legion, accompanied them.
The sendoff Monday morning was a fitting climax to the impressive testimonial and banquet given them Sunday night at George Washington Auditorium, which was crowded with some two hundred town officials and townspeople.
After the colors had been trooped in by a squad of veterans under the leadership of Past Legion Commander Angus Hanson, Selectman Donald A. Lent welcomed the guets and introduced the Toastmaster, Joseph P. Dineen, Past Commander of the Maynard Legion Post. All but one of the speakers were residents of Maynard, the exception being Judge Calger of Concord, who was also the first to speak. Rev D. Edward O’Bryan, pastor of St. Bridget’s church gave the invocation. Other clergymen who spoke were Rev. George Koponen, pastor of the Finnish Congregational church of which Kangas is a member, Rev. William F. Maciaszek, pastor of St. Casimir’s church, which Sofka attends. Rev. Herbert F. Fulton, pastor of the Methodist church and Father O’Bryan, whose talk was particularly stirring and received much applause. “Father Bill†Maciaszek, as he is affectionately known, brought tears to many eyes as in simple language he explained that the mother of Bennie Sofka was seriously ill in the hospital and unaware that her boy had been called for service.
Following the clergymen were Attorneys Leslie W. Sims, John J. Donahuge, John Driscoll and Charles Lerer; George Lunch, member of the Concord Draft Board; Postmaster Frank O. Sheridan, Representative Avery Steele; John Higgins of the School Committee; James Ledgard; Town Clerk Frank E. Sanderson, who said that, although no record had been kept of the names of the first draftees of the World War, the secretary’s report of the testimonial, newspapers clippings and photographs would be found in the safe of the Town Clerk by those who follow him in
Creator
FenwayFoto
Boston
Boston
Date
Nov. 17, 1940
Identifier
2014.393
2014.366
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photo prints
Physical Dimensions
9 x 19 in.; two prints
Storage
PB54